U.S. Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny Overview

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the U.S. should stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

missionaries

People who travel to a place to teach other people about their religion.

migration

Moving to another place.

fertile

Capable of growing crops.

Oregon Trail

One of the major migration routes for pioneers heading westward.

economic opportunity

The chance to improve lives and fortunes by moving west.

geography

The physical features of the land that influenced westward migration.

American Progress

A popular painting by John Gast showing America guiding settlers west.

California Gold Rush

The discovery of gold in California that encouraged people to head west.

freedom

The opportunity for enslaved people to live freely if they could escape the South.

Erie Canal

A canal that made it easier and cheaper to travel part of the way west.

steamboats

Boats powered by steam that facilitated transportation to the West.

railroads

Tracks that made it easier to transport goods and people westward.

pioneers

Settlers who traveled west to explore and settle new lands.

settlers

People who moved to a new area to establish a home.

Mississippi River

A river that missionaries crossed to reach American Indians.

land

Fertile land out west was abundant and often given away for free.

towns

Communities that settlers established as they moved west.

businesses

Enterprises that settlers started as they migrated west.

wagons

Vehicles used by pioneers to travel the rest of the way west.

paths

Routes like the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails used by pioneers.

fresh start

The opportunity for individuals to begin anew in the West.

crowded cities

Urban areas in the eastern United States that prompted migration west.

superior lifestyle

The belief held by Americans that their way of life was better than that of American Indians.

Fur Traders

Par traders moved west to collect furs of beavers and other wild animals.

Mormons

Religious leader Joseph Smith founded the Mormons in 1830.

Brigham Young

A new leader who took over after Joseph Smith was killed in 1844.

Persecution

Many people did not accept the views of Mormons, leading to attacks and burned homes.

Great Salt Lake

The location where Mormons thought they had found freedom in Mexico.

100,000

By 1877, there were more than 100,000 people living in the area around the Great Salt Lake.

Oregon Trail

One of the two main trails followed by people traveling west in the 1800s.

Santa Fe Trail

Became popular in the 1820s, where traders filled wagons with manufactured goods.

Two months

It took about two months to travel the Santa Fe Trail.

Cholera

A disease caused by drinking contaminated water, which was a risk for travelers.

Five to six months

The trip on the Oregon Trail took five to six months.

Covered wagons

Travelers brought covered wagons pulled by oxen filled with food and household goods.

Caravans

Travelers traveled in caravans to defend themselves and help each other.

Mixed Native + European cultures

The effect of fur traders moving west, leading to cultural exchanges.

Gold and silver

Goods that traders would bring back from Santa Fe after trading.

Missionaries

The first to travel the full Oregon Trail.

Drowning

One of the dangers faced by travelers while crossing rivers.

Snowstorms and sandstorms

Weather-related dangers faced by travelers on the trails.

Community growth

The effect of Mormons moving west despite conflicts with the U.S. government.

Polygamy

The practice of marrying multiple wives, accepted by Mormons.

U.S. government conflicts

Challenges faced by Mormons after the U.S. took control of their territory in 1848.

Oregon Trail

A historic east-west wagon route that was primarily used by settlers.

Santa Fe Trail

A trade route that was primarily used by traders.

Travel duration on Oregon Trail

Took 5 to 6 months.

Travel duration on Santa Fe Trail

Took about 2 months.

Dangers faced by travelers

Travelers faced many dangers including lack of water.

Caravans

Travelers rode in caravans for safety.

Missouri Compromise

An agreement reached in 1820 that allowed Missouri to be a slave state and Maine to be a free state.

Boundary established by Missouri Compromise

Congress drew a boundary across the West, determining free areas to the north and slave regions to the south.

Equal number of states

The compromise ensured there were an equal number of free states and slave states.

Abolitionists

People who believed slavery should be outlawed.

Texas War for Independence

A conflict in which Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836.

Stephen F. Austin

A leader who claimed Texas and declared its independence from Mexico.

The Alamo

An old Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas, that became a symbol of courageous action.

Outcome of the Alamo

Nearly every Texan rebel in the Alamo died during the Mexican attack.

Symbolism of the Alamo

The defeat became a motivating event in the Texas Revolution.

David Crockett

A well-known U.S. Congressman from Tennessee and a frontiersman.

Mexican government's land offer

The Mexican government offered cheap land to Americans and enslaved people to settle Texas.

Outlawing of slavery in Mexico

Mexico's central government outlawed slavery, causing discontent among American settlers.

Texas population dynamics

By the 1830s, American settlers and enslaved people outnumbered native Tejanos.

Political control and slavery

The Missouri Compromise prevented either side from gaining political control over slavery.

Timeframe of the Missouri Compromise

The compromise worked for nearly 30 years.

Travelers' dangers on the Santa Fe Trail

Lack of water along the Santa Fe Trail led to starvation or dehydration.

Texas Revolution

A series of battles fought for Texas independence from Mexico.

David Crockett

A well-known U.S. Congressman from Tennessee and a frontiersman who fought in the Texas Revolution.

Sam Houston

U.S. General who led the Texas Army to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836.

Battle of San Jacinto

The battle where Texas won its independence from Mexico, lasting only 18 minutes.

Texas Independence

Achieved in 1836 after the Battle of San Jacinto.

Texas Revolution

A conflict between Texas settlers and the Mexican government that led to Texas's independence.

James K. Polk

The eleventh president of the United States, known for his belief in westward expansion.

Oregon Territory

Land that was shared between Great Britain and the United States until the Oregon Treaty.

54-40 or fight!

Polk's political slogan threatening war against Great Britain over the Oregon Territory.

Oregon Treaty

The treaty signed in June 1846 that split the Oregon Territory at the 49th parallel.

Annexation of Texas

Texas was annexed by the United States and became a state on December 29, 1845.

Texas as a Nation

Texas was its own independent country for nine years before being annexed.

U.S. Senate

Sam Houston served two terms as a U.S. senator.

Governor of Tennessee

Sam Houston was elected governor of Tennessee in 1827.

War of 1812

A conflict in which Sam Houston served under Andrew Jackson.

Mexican Government Mistake

The mistake made in the settlement of Texas that led to conflict.

Texas Statehood

The process by which Texas became a state in the United States.

Independence from Mexico

Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836.

Battle of the Alamo

A pivotal event in the Texas Revolution where Texan rebels, including Crockett, were killed.

U.S. Expansion

The belief in and practice of expanding the United States westward during Polk's presidency.

Northern Boundary of Oregon Territory

The latitude line at 54 degrees 40 minutes that Polk wanted to claim.

Treaty with Great Britain

The agreement that split the Oregon Territory, giving the northern part to Great Britain.

Texas as a U.S. State

Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. after being an independent nation.

Texas Annexation Opposition

Opposition from Northerners in the U.S. against admitting Texas due to slavery concerns.

Polk's Promise

Polk promised to expand the country, leading to Texas's annexation.

Polk's slogan, '54-40 or fight.'

They wanted the land all the way to the 54-40 latitude line.

Did the United States fight for 54-40?

No, they were at war with Mexico already.

The Mexican War

Mexico had threatened to wage war against the United States if Texas was allowed to join the Union.

Texas admission to the Union

When Texas was admitted as a state in 1845, the Mexican government was furious!

U.S. and Mexico boundary controversy

The United States claimed that the Rio Grande was the southern boundary of the U.S.

President Polk's action

President Polk sent American soldiers into the area to protect the U.S. claim.

Start of the Mexican War

In April 1846, Mexican troops crossed the river and attacked the Americans.

U.S. declaration of war

In May 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico.